Resources

Thanks to the Internet, there are lots of great and important places to go and test your risk for illness using interactive calculators and questionnaires. I will be keeping this page fresh and up to date with new information and access to resources that can help you track and manage your health, as well as learn the latest scientific evidence on disease risk factors. These suggestions are empowering tools to use in combination with the knowledge gained from The End of Illness. I believe we each need to be treated differently, and identifying your individual risk profile is key.

If you have others to recommend, including useful apps, please let me know. You can contact me through the website. With your input, we’ll continue to add to the database that has the ultimate goal of helping us end illness as we know it!

I like the Nike Fuel Band because it gives you a quantitative read-out on your wrist. I like to check during the day, and I like more than having to go to a cellphone app to do it. Nike uses an algorithm called Fuel where it gives you ‘fuel units’ for various movements. I take off the “steps” and “calories” indicators (you can turn these off in the app so no longer reports on the band.” It is very well built and makes a great statement to people: “I care about health!”

The fitbit is more comfortable on the wrist than the Nike Fuel band, but doesn’t give real time feedback on your wrist, you need to go to an app to check where you are in the day. The app is a good one though.

Test (similar to Navigenics except doesn’t require a physician to get the test and doesn’t use genetic counseling routinely). Gives you important and actionable genetic information about yourself! Well done web interface. Presently this test is on hold pending US FDA review. My hope is that it will be on the market in an improved form in the next few months.

Really amazing app that can measure your heart rate and breathing through the iPhone or iPad camera. The camera detects subtle changes in the skin color of your face to measure your heart rate and movements of your chest to measure your breathing rate. It really works, and is accurate! You have to try it.

A set of bluetooth connected devices including scale, heart rate monitor, and blood pressure cuff. Nice to have all of my data in one place, so I can look at trends. Really easy to work.

DISEASE RISK CALCULATORS *

(*Please Note! While these calculators are excellent tools to gauge your risk levels, the recommendations made to prevent these illnesses are not always reflective of my beliefs. In some instances, the preventive strategies listed are in direct conflict with the ideas and prescriptions described in the book—not to mention the latest studies in peer-reviewed scientific research.)

What’s your cancer risk? (There’s much more to it than just smoking and drinking.)
Find out by going here and asking yourself a few questions.

What’s your diabetes risk? (You can dramatically reduce your risk, and even cure yourself in some cases from this disease.)
Find out by going here and asking yourself a few questions.

What’s your heart disease risk? (The #1 killer is also one of the most preventable.)
Find out by going here and asking yourself a few questions.

What’s your osteoporosis risk? (Calcium isn’t the only—or even the best—way to protect yourself.)
Find out by going here and asking yourself a few questions.

What’s your stroke risk? (It’s more preventable than you think.)
Find out by going here and asking yourself a few questions.

YOUR BMI CALCULATOR

To calculate your body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women and which factors into your risk for disease, go here.

To use a BMI table that shows height and weight in reference to BMI, go here.